The Senate on Dec. 19 confirmed the nomination of Lt. Gen. Roger Brady to receive a fourth star and take command of US Air Forces in Europe. Gen. Tom Hobbins already has relinquished command at USAFE. The Senate also confirmed Maj. Gen. Richard Newton to take Brady’s post as USAF deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel and to receive a third star.
The dramatic and sprawling two-day operation to save the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran on April 3 involved hundreds of personnel, dozens of aircraft—and multiple close calls.